I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: Ephesians 4:1-3 NABRE
Paul is writing to the house churches of Ephesus. The letter presents a teaching about what God has done through Jesus Christ for the listener. It is a general letter valid for any community of followers. The quoted verse begins a chapter where Paul is challenging the listener to build up the church, giving instruction on how. He is telling how spiritual growth comes to Church, to local communities and to ourselves. Paul urges each member to strive for unity, to have a role in ministry and by doing both the body of Christ advances toward maturity. Paul claims he is united with Jesus in imprisonment, having nothing else but Jesus in his life. He urges the listener to live a life worthy of Jesus, who gave all for all. We are to behave in such a way that others seeing us want to be members of our community. We are to have humility, gentleness, patience and bearing with one another lovingly. Our intention as members of a Church community is to have a unity of Spirit that brings peace. Paul speaks about creating a new person, sharing access to the Spirit of the Father with an active effort to preserve peaceable relationships among church members. Conflict tends to arise, Paul wants us to mimic Jesus and work toward a peaceable community.
Working to bring new members to Jesus, it is most important that we live united, others seeing our love for one another will be compelled to join. We all want to be around people of peace.
Do you bear with your Church brothers and sisters? Is unity a priority in your church, your life?
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